Nothing Tastes As Good As Slim Feels Part 4

[knottyhair]

Whoops. Managed to fill it up again! Hope it's OK to start a new one. Let's keep going everyone - big zonetastic push up to the festive season!!

V. quiet on here. I hope you're all okay.
I am detoxing for the rest of the week. Soup and fruit (and a few go ahead biscuits at night! ) My menieres disease has flared up a bit and I feel the need to be a bit healthier. Have drunk loads of water today, and have to pee every 3 seconds. Very annoying.
Made soup with cauliflower, red lentils, curry powder and chilli today. Was surprisingly nice!

Morning all! Yes, very quiet! Following my Shred on Monday, my cold seemed to come right out so I've been out of action exercise wise . Hoping now it's come out, it will be gone soon. Trying to be sensible food wise and not comfort eat. Soup for lunch, maybe half a prawn sandwich and pasta with bacon, tomatoes & mushrooms for tea with a rocket salad. Belle, sorry you're suffering, the symptoms sound horrible (had to google it!). Dinky, hope you're continuing to heal. Hope everyone has a good day xx

Hi everyone. Knotty hope you feel better soon. Dinky hope you're recovering well. Belle That sounds horrible (also had to google) hope you're okay.

Been a bit under the weather myself. It's AF week so have been eating my own weight in chocolate (medicinal of course ) DS2 has also been under the weather, just really tired and a bit of a cough and runny nose. Has been off for two days but he's in great form, and yesterday spent the day playing and on the computer so he's back in today. His glands are up, but they have been since before Chirstmas. He had a blood test a couple of weeks ago which is all clear and Dr said glands can take months to go down. Still a bit worrying though.

Am hovering around the 10st 7lb mark for the past week so no more weight off. Have to stop eating bread, makes me so bloated. Have a good day.

Gosh, it's quiet on here! Are you all stuffing your faces with chocolate? Hmm? :o

I really need some support at the mo. I'm finding it really hard. I just cannot stop eating. I had a bad day on Friday- I just ate and ate until I felt sick- And yesterday and today, I'm going over 1200 cals, though not by a lot. I don't know why, but I just eat all the bloody time, not just when I'm hungry. I've lost focus, and I'm stupidly down about my own lack of control. I don't want to be fat again. I really don't.

I'm going to the co-op now to buy lots of veg, hopefully I'll wake up with a bit of mind strength tomorrow morning.

Hello! no, not stuffing my face stuffs sticky bun wrapper down back of sofa. Have had a stinker of a cold so haven't been exercising but trying to eat well apart from sticky bun. Having said that, we're going out to Pizza Express tonight before seeing Chris Addison (can't wait). Belle, you're maintaining now aren't you? What limit does MFP give you for maintenance? If you're going slightly over 1200 cals a day, I'd say you're doing fine. But saying that, eating until you feel sick obviously isn't great. I can only say what works for me, and that's trying to plan my meals and snacks as far as I can, and finding a type of exercise I enjoy and doing it regularly. Sorry I can't be more help, hopefully someone else will be along soon. But I hope you feel stronger tomorrow - feeling out of control is horrible. Dinky, hope you're on the mend. Paxton, hope your DS is feeling better. Sounds like you've done well to STS. Hope you're all having a good weekend xx

Hi all - Knotty, have a great time tonight. V jealous.

Paxton - hope you and DS2 feeling better and AF and the chocfest dont cause too much of a blip.

Belle - sorry to hear you're feeling abit bleurgh weight/dietwise. Time to get introspective I think - why are you bingeing on fatty foods? Are you an emotional/boredom eater? You do so well when in the zone - and rather than binge and purge its best to see a healthy way of life. And build in exercise where you can to off set any temporary excesses. You are below target now so if you put on a small bit of weight it really wont be the end of the world - but you need to feel healthy and happy too.

Thanks for being kind, all. :) I feel a bit better tonight.
A lot of it is down to concentration with me. It sounds so silly, but as soon as I start relaxing, it all goes to pot. It's as if I can't find a middle ground. If I have one treat, I let it all go. I cannot have one biscuit. It's a bit of a catch 22- If I eat crap, it makes me feel bad so I eat more crap etc etc...
I had a salad instead of the roast tonight, and I have to admit I do feel better after eating a bit lighter. Also, being out in the sunshine did me the world of good.
Thanks, you lot. I'd have given up long ago if it wasn't for you! :)

Morning! Belle, glad you're feeling more positive. Dinky, how much longer are you sofa bound for?
Back on the Jillian wagon this morning - did a L2 Ripped and really enjoyed it. Soup & half a sandwich for lunch, pork chops with roasted parsnips and a new recipe for a healthy version of cauliflower cheese - we shall see how it goes down! Have a nice day everyone xx

Mmmm healthy cauli cheese knotty- If it's nice, you must share the recipe! :)

Am feeling loads better. Detoxing again, staying away from carbs for a few days. I always feel better carb free. It does affect my energy, though, so I'll only do it for a few days. I shall need my energy next week because WE ARE GETTING A DOG!

(OK, it's not strictly ours- It's my sister's, which is due her first child any time now. But seeing as it's here for an unspecified time, and that she lives in a different country, it will probably be ours from now on- Yay!)

Wow Belle, a dog! What breed is it? Good luck! The cauliflower recipe was lovely, although thinking about it, I'm not sure how "healthy" it is (in terms of low cal anyhoo). I've tried to work it out and I think it's about 250 cals per portion. If you want to give it a go, you cut the cauliflower into florets, mix it with 1tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp caster sugar, s&p and put in a roasting tray and roast at 180c for 20 mins. Mix together 200g creme fraiche (I used half fat), 1 tsp dijon mustard and 50g grated Gruyere. Mix with the cauliflower and put in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with another 50g Gruyere and bake for another 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped chives. This amount should serve 4-6 as a side.

I weighed in this morning for the first time in about 6 weeks and I'm still at 9 stone so quite pleased with that! I haven't done much exercise in the last couple of weeks and I've had quite a few days when I've eaten more/different stuff due to birthdays etc. so I seem to have found a weight I can maintain quite easily without thinking about it too much, which is what I wanted. I'm going to try to weigh in monthly just to keep an eye on it. Did L1 6W6P this morning. Chicken & veg soup with half a sandwich for lunch, a small slice of birthday cake this afternoon (DS's friend's birthday), and tuna burgers with guacamole & salad for tea. Hope everyone's OK and staying in the zone xx

Ooh, a dog - how exciting Belle! And a new niece or nephew on the way too. Lovely news

HOw was Chris Addison Knotty? The cauliflower recipe sounds lovely - and well done for maintaining at 9 stone too.

He was brilliant Dinky, no wonder he's so skinny, he doesn't stay still on stage. He did a bit of political stuff which I thought was quite brave of him seeing as it was in Tunbridge Wells (or "Tunny Wah Wah" as he called it!). How are you doing?

Not too bad thanks Knotty - back at work and hopefully down to only one crutch from next week. Saw consultant today who has said to start physio and no resistance cycling which is all good.

Glad to hear you're back on your feet Dinky .

Morning! 4 circuits of BFBM done this morning. Soup & half a sandwich for lunch and italian baked fish with roasted swede & carrot, and spring greens for tea.

Can I just share this recipe with you? We had them last night again and it's one of DS's favourites. We have them in wholemeal baps with salad and chilli sauce. Hope everyone's having a nice day x

Hello everyone!
Right.
I'm sorting myself out.
I've been living on a bit of a binge/purge cycle, and today (binge day :( ) something just clicked. Monday and Tuesday I had less than 500 calories per day. Today I've probably gone over 2500. I need to stop this now. I can't keep hurting myself. So I'm going back to baking, which I find soothing, but am going to try healthier alternatives to experiment with. I'm going to eat at least 1,100 calories a day, and I'm going to let myself enjoy food without feeling guilty.
Coming to this decision has made me really happy. I've been thinking a lot about it (watching Supersize vs. Superskinny obsessively etc etc). But this is crunch time. I'm not passing on these food issues to another generation.

THANK YOU for putting up with my silly food complexity. I really appreciate you lot, and feel like I can be honest on here. :)

Belle, at the risk of sounding cheesy, your honesty is really inspiring . I was really relieved to read your post TBH - had seen a couple of your MFP diary entries and was a bit concerned about the low calorie intake. It's difficult on here often to know when to say something - it's not like having a chat with someone! Wishing you loads of luck and we're always here if you need us xxx

Belle - I speak as someone who has seen friends die from anorexia, lose their periods, hair etc from eating disorders: you know that the binge and purge cycle is so bad for your health and your body (that way anorexia, ulcers, digestive complaints, constipation, anaemia, brittle bones etc. lie - I know you've given yourself ulcers from drastic weight loss before so you really dont want to go down that route again) so I am so glad you've decided to put a stop to it. You need to be strong and try to see food as sustenance for a healthy happy life, where you can do what you want to do with your boys and have the energy to enjoy life, rather than something to control and try not so much to keep an iron grip on your weight. I think 1,100 cals is too low (and will keep an unhealthy focus on control of weight/what you're putting in) - I'd say aim for 1,300 cals a day, dont focus on the cals but do focus on what you're putting into your body as being good and healthy and giving you energy (mindful eating, not mindless eating) and try a more holistic approach. Can you take up yoga or meditation to help you with a more holistic approach to keeping your body healthy and strong?

Sorry just re-read my post and it sounds abit preachy to me - I really didnt mean it to be Belle. I just want you to be happy and healthy and not get into a bad place with food.

Thank you all for being so nice- and not preachy at all dinky. I've thought a lot about your post. You're so right. I am actually going to stop counting calories, just trying to eat when I'm hungry, and stay healthy. I'll use MFP to calculate calories for new recipes, so that I can have a rough idea if something is healthier than the original IYKWIM, but I am giving myself room to breathe.
I am also banning the scales for now- I'll know by my jeans if I'm gaining weight.
Today, I have eaten properly, and feel so bloody good- I have energy, I can concentrate, I feel like my whole body is exhaling.
Thank you again, my friends- You mean a lot more than words on a screen. :o

Well done Belle - I'm proud of you x

Great news Belle! xx

Morning! Had a lovely day yesterday - went tobogganing on one of those dry cresta runs for one of DS's friend's birthdays, adults as well. Really good fun. Ended up back at one of my friend's houses for a glass of wine which led to us getting a takeaway . Very nice though. Did a L3 Ripped in 30 this morning in anticipation of a big roast lunch at my sister's house later. Beautifully sunny here - hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day xx

Happy mother's day, all! Tobogganing sounds ace, knotty and you probably burned off your takeaway!

I am eating too much crap this weekend due to poor planning, and mother's day- I have made some lovely homemade oregano pitta breads though, which will help me keep on the right track during the week. Yesterday I ate tons of choc and a piece of cake (Thank you, AF) but I'm ready for a happy and healthy week, with no calorie counting! :)

By the way, whoever named this thread has not tasted pancakes with chocolate philly and peanut butter... (My mother's day gift from DS) :o